Google’s Danny Sullivan recently sat down for an interview with Barry Schwartz, where they discussed the unpredictable nature of algorithm impacts and recovery. One key takeaway from the conversation is that publishers who have been impacted by recent Google algorithm updates may never fully recover to their previous traffic levels. While the changes have helped some sites, they haven’t brought them back to where they were before. Sullivan did mention that good sites producing quality content could still see gains in the future, but there are no guarantees of a full recovery.
Sullivan acknowledged that Google’s ranking systems could be improved in certain areas and that they are constantly working to reward good content. However, he also emphasized that current traffic levels may be the new normal for some websites. September 2023 no longer exists, and the ranking systems have evolved to include different types of content, such as forum content and social media content, to provide diverse results.
The August 2024 core update was another important topic discussed in the interview. This update aimed to address the feedback Google received from content creators and others. Google wants to reward smaller and independent websites that create useful and original content. However, according to Schwartz’s report on the update, most sites did not see significant recoveries, and some even experienced declines or remained the same.
It’s worth noting that Google received around 12,000 individual submissions with 1,300 unique domains for feedback on the core update. The company is still reviewing this feedback, indicating that they are actively listening to the concerns and experiences of publishers.
While it’s easy to blame Google for algorithm changes and their impact on website visibility and traffic, it’s important for publishers to also take a critical look at their own websites. SEO is becoming increasingly complex, and understanding why a website has lost visibility is crucial in rebuilding authority and recovering from algorithm updates.
Overall, the interview with Danny Sullivan sheds light on the challenges publishers face in recovering from algorithm updates. It highlights the need for continuous improvement in Google’s systems and the importance of producing high-quality content. Publishers who have been impacted should continue to fight on and adapt to the evolving landscape of search engine optimization.
For the full interview between Danny Sullivan and Barry Schwartz, readers can visit Search Engine Roundtable. Additionally, it’s worth noting that Danny Sullivan is the Editorial Director of Search Engine Land and Search Marketing Expo – SMX, and his business relationship with Third Door Media, Search Engine Land’s parent company, is disclosed in the article.
